- Dante's Equation
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Dante's Equation 
Image of paperback editionAuthor(s) Jane Jensen Cover artist John Picacio Country United States Language English Genre(s) Speculative Fiction novel Publisher Del Rey Publication date July 29, 2003 Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback) Pages 496 pp ISBN 0345430379 OCLC Number 52742526 Dewey Decimal 813/.54 22 LC Classification PS3560.E5919 D36 2003 Dante's Equation is the title of a novel authored by Jane Jensen and published in 2003. It was nominated for, and received special citation of the Philip K. Dick Award.[1]
Contents
Plot summary
The novel gives the story of a young scientist discovering a law of nature that controls good and evil. As it turns out, this insight was already previously discovered by a Jewish physicist, Yosef Kobinski, in Auschwitz during the Holocaust and the young scientist's discovery coincides with the resurfacing of manuscripts written by the Jewish physicist. The discovery and the manuscripts attract an interest from several sources. A kabbalistic scholar becomes interested in Kobinski as well, as his name shows up in an analysis of Torah codes. A journalist is trying to track down Kobiniski too as part of the research for an article on disappearances. The military become aware of the phenomenon as well, and one agent tries to track down the young scientist and her partner in order to evaluate the military applications of the discovery.
Characters
- Denton Wyle-- reporter for the Mysterious World tabloid. Obsessed with disappearances because of an experience when he was 10 years old.
- Aharon Handalman-- rabbi and Torah scholar in Jerusalem. Discovers Yosef Kobinski's name and ominous phrases in the Torah codes. Married to Hannah.
- Calder Farris-- lieutenant in the US Army, investigating new weapons technology from non-mainstream scientific sources for the Department of Defense.
- Dr. Jill Talcott-- physicist at the University of Washington studying wave theory. Discovers the One-Minus-One Wave with assistant and graduate student Nate Andros.
- Nate Andros-- graduate student and assistant to Dr. Talcott; has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy.
- Hannah Handalman-- wife of Aharon; aids Aharon in his search for information about Kobinski, against his wishes.
- Yosef Kobinski-- rabbi and Kabbalist -- imprisoned in Auschwitz during World War II, but dies or disappears during an escape attempt. Becomes semi-divine Lord of the Fiori.
- One-Minus-One Wave-- The equation for good and evil. Actually, a wave that, when it overlaps with the gravity waves of matter and probability waves, works to alleviate negative happenings (troughs) and blunt positive happenings (peaks).
Literary significance and reception
Jeff Zaleski gave this novel a mixed review for Publishers Weekly saying "Jensen is on surer ground describing Kabbalah and Holocaust history than she is plotting supernatural adventures, which unravel by the end. But she gets points for the innovative, multifaceted story."[2] Frieda Murray was more positive in her review for Booklist saying "The book plays out as it has begun, in rather standard thriller fashion. Jensen keeps it moving, though, and her characters, if not always sympathetic, are fully developed. In this, her second novel, she gives lessons in style to many thriller writers with longer publication lists."[3] Kirkus Reviews was also somewhat mixed in their summary describing the novel as "intriguing and often surprising, but what with a plot that doesn't add up and (with one exception) a nasty bunch of characters: mostly a tough slog."[4]
Marian Kester Coombs in her review for Human Events was much more positive saying "the writing is felicitous--sometimes humorously colloquial, sometimes Virginia-Woofish in the subtlety of its apercus--and the momentum is energetic throughout (too often such heady plots lose steam and end up chugging wearily into the station for the obligatory finale). The wide range of believable (and mostly likable) characters remains alive and kicking. Jensen is particularly good at animating male characters, but her Dr. Jill Talcott is a memorable creation here."[5]
See also
- Tree of life (Kabbalah)
- Biblical code
- Dante
Footnotes
- ^ janejensen.com
- ^ Zaleski, Jeff (June 16, 2003). "DANTE'S EQUATION (Book)". Publishers Weekly 250 (24): 48. ISSN 0000-0019.
- ^ Murray, Frieda (August 1, 2003). "Dante's Equation (Book)". Booklist 99 (22): 1968. ISSN 00067385.
- ^ "DANTE'S EQUATION (Book)". Kirkus Reviews 71 (10): 722. May 15, 2003. ISSN 00426598.
- ^ Coombs, Marian Kester (September 29, 2003). "Semper Sci Fi". Human Events 59 (33): 20. ISSN 00187194.
External links
- Dante's Equation publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- A more comprehensive review
- Author's website
Categories:- 2003 novels
- 2000s science fiction novels
- American science fiction novels
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